Not suprising information on the current state of the market. In Hawaii, we are definitely seeing more action in the first time homebuyer segment, but expect to see it trickling up.

Great commentary on the value of PROPERLY staging a home for sale.

Wow!! That first time homebuyer's (FTHB) credit has really started things on a roll with the Oahu real estate market. Full price, close to full price or multiple offers on just about all Oahu homes for sale under $650K. The market in the $650K to $800K price range doing well too! And the last few weeks, Oahu homes for sale going into escrow in record time. Only things in really bad condition or very overpriced are staying on the market. Most first time home buyers have gotten in, but still a few stragglers... Might now be too late to close by Nov. 30.

Now, the next round of buyers are those who have sold to FTHB and who are trading up or downsizing. And many need to find something fast. Hoping that this will gain a little momentum and activity will stay steady over the holidays. Typically, there is not as much inventory, but with a few more tradeup buyers in the market as a result of the FTHB activity, we may still be seeing some more price pressure and multiple offers this holiday season. Stay posted for the latest statistics posted at www.HomeShoppeHawaii.com.

Waiting to see what next year has in store for homebuyers... another credit??? 

There is a new luxury listing in Kailua that I just love! Not only for its great features, but because the price is right at $1,198,000. I came across it by almost accident, in the course of researching concrete countertops, of all things. The home is owned by General Contractor and artist, John Foley, also the founder of Concreations, a company that specializes in decorative concrete for the home - acid stained floors and custom concrete countertops.

This luxury home in Kailua is quite special, not only for its liberal use of custom concrete in almost every room of the house, but for its gorgeous ocean views. Perched high on a hilltop in the Keolu Hills area of Kailua, this home has expansive views of Kailua Bay from every lanai, and there are several of those across two levels. The downstairs of the home has 10 foot ceilings and the living room lanai doors open completely, giving the home an "inside is out" feeling of spaciousness. The downstairs living area is large and inviting with sea green acid stained floors and plenty of windows. There is a large bedroom and bath on this ground floor level, as well. The kitchen features stainless steel appliances and concrete counters inlaid with sea shells and turquoise.

Upstairs, you will find 9 foot ceilings, bamboo floors and another living area large enough for a living room suite and a pool table. The master suite features views, a large lanai, and large soaking tub with separate shower, and a walk-in closet. There are two additional smaller bedrooms, for a total of 4. There are also 4 total bathrooms, which are all quite large and which features gorgeous custom concrete countertops created by the owner.

For an additional suprise, the home has a guest suite complete with wetbar/kitchen facilities. This "recreation area," which could be compared to a small 1 bedroom apartment, even has its own separate entrance and a separate lanai with those same killer ocean views. And did I mention the home is situated perfectly to take advantage of the tradewinds, keeping things cool.  The home has custom doors and cabinetry and a suspended wire railed staircase reminiscent of a San Francisco loft home, as well as bright, modern, yet still decidedly tropical, choices in paint colors.

If you are an unrepresented buyer interested in this fine home and would like to see it, please don't hestitate to call me at 808-721-8088. Listing courtesy of CB Pacific Properties.

Main Living Area and Front Lanai, Doorway Completely Opens for Spectacular Kailua Bay Views - Acid Stained Concrete Floors, Custom Concrete Kitchen Counters in this Kailua Luxury Home Listing on Oahu

Kailua Bay Views from Every Lanai! Luxury Home Listings Kailua - Kailua Home for Sale - Keolu Hills, Kailua

Upper Floor Living Area, Bamboo Floors 9ft Ceilings - Large Lanai and Kailua Bay Views - Luxury Homes in Kailua

Large Downstairs Bedroom in Luxury Kailua Listing for Sale. Acid-Stained Concrete Floors, High Celings, WOW!

Looking for a luxury home for sale in Honolulu? or luxury home listings on Oahu? Or beachfront homes on Maui? Or luxury homes for sale anywhere else, for that matter... Have an iPhone? Well then, November 1 is your lucky day because that is the day the new iPhone application, LuxLister is set to be released.

LuxLister has been described by its makers as "a revolutionary way to search for luxurious properties directly from your iPhone. This unique application was designed to provide home buyers in the luxury market a way to look for property without being inundated with unwanted information or contact. The goal of the LuxLister application is to engage luxury real estate consumers by providing a platform which enables them to gain easy and seamless access to luxury listings internationally."

Luxlister is a FREE download which may be obtained through the Apple iTunes Store after November 1, which is the scheduled release date. Users can browse luxury homes for sale in their desired area and directly contact the listing agent for that property with the touch of a button. Seamless delivery of information and ease of contact all in one place! To use LuxLister just download the application to your iPhone and in seconds, start browing luxury homes for sale. Homeowners, as well as luxury real estate agents may list directly with LuxLister.

What types of properties are on LuxLister? As a general rule, the property must meet certain price guidelines and standards, typically having a sale price of 3 times the average sales price in the area. There may be exceptions to this, however. LuxLister promises to make the search for luxury homes on Oahu or in any other area of the world easier and quicker.  For more information go to www.luxlister.com.

Aloha & Good Luck Finding your Luxury Home or Beachfront Home in Honolulu!

LANIKAI, KAILUA NEIGHBORHOOD 
LUXURY & BEACHFRONT HOMES FOR SALE IN KAILUA, OAHU

Lanikai means "heavenly seas" and is one of the most desired and expensive areas of Kailua. Lanikai is where you will find many of the luxury homes for sale in Kailua and has the best beacfront luxury homes on Oahu. Lanikai is the home or vacation spot to many local and national celebrities, such as the beloved late Don Ho. Elvis once had a home here too. Now, faces from the TV series "Lost," filmed on Oahu are often seen living and playing in Lanikai.

If you are looking for Lanikai real estate, you will find multi-million dollar mansions and modern architechtural masterpieces mingled with plantation style homes and shabby beach cottages. As one of the first and oldest areas of Kailua, there are more very old (incl. 20's & 30's) homes left in this area of Kailua than any other, some beautifully restored. The beach, with it's soft white sand is world renowned and many homes are either beachfront or have a views of the ocean and nearby Mokulua islands, a wildlife preserve, to which people take out kayaks. Lanikai is located just past the South end of Kailua Beach Park, up and over the Lanikai Hill (Alala Street). Homes start on a relatively flat loop road and branch out up the hills from there. The Mid-Pacific Country Club and Golf Course is located in Lanikai, Kailua, but there are no other local businesses. Commuting out of Kailua to town (Honolulu) is a bit slower from this area, as there is only one road in and out but many people don't find that to be an issue. Bellows Air Force Station recreation Area is located directly South of Lanikai and the Bluestone condominiums and Keolu Hills neighborhoods are on the backside of Lanikai's hills.

Prices for homes for sale in the Lanikai Neighborhood of Kailua can start in low 7 figures, usually around $1.0 for fixers or tear downs not on the beach and range to possibly, $9-10 million, (and more for larger sized parcels and luxury homes and estates that could be further subdivided to still large lots). Lots vary in size as well, usually, from around 10,000 square feet to over an acre, though there are a few smaller lots resulting from property CPRs. Zoning in this area is typically R-10, meaning one single-family residence per 10,000 sq ft. There are both homes and a few vacant lots available.

Public schools in Lanikai are Kailua Elementary and Lanikai Elementary (charter schools), Kailua Middle School, and Kailua HS, depending upon location. Private schools, such as St. Anthony School, is within a few miles and goes PS-8th. Grocery and restaurants are all within a mile or two from Lanikai. locations.

2009 SALES DATA FOR LANIKAI NEIGHBORHOOD IN KAILUA - KAILUA LUXURY BEACHFRONT HOMES

This year, with only one quarter left in 2009, the number of sales in the Lanikai Neighborhood of Kailua is down very significantly. As of the end of September 2009 there have only been 4 sales, with 3 of those sales in the under $2 million price range and the average sale price at $2,028,750. Unlike last year, in which we saw the sale of one property, 1554 Alapapa Drive for under $1 Million, the lowest sale in 2009 was $1.1 Million for 751 Alapapa. In 2009, only one Lanikai sale was beachfront: a 1935 home at 1206/1208 Mokuloa, which sold for $3,500,000.
LANIKAI HOMES SOLD IN 2009, THROUGH Q3 LUXURY HOMES IN KAILUA OAHU 2009 STATS THROUGH Q3 Average Sale Price: $2,028,750 Average Days on the Market: 103		Right now (end Q3 2009), there are 25 homes for sale in Lanikai. Just over half have lot sizes of around 8-12,000 sq feet. 11 have lots larger than 12,000 sq ft, and 5 of these 11 are on lots over an acre in size.  10 Homes for Sale in Lanikai are beachfront. The asking price for the least expensive beachfront Lanikai home for sale is $4,950,000 and the highest priced beachfront home for sale in Lanikai is $13,000,000. If you are searching for Lanikai beachfront Homes by address the even-numbered side of Mokulua Drive has all the beachfront homes in Lanikai. Luxury homes and estates in Lanikai can be found on this street and throughout the area. I would expect to see some downward price pressure on Lanikai homes for sales, as a result of this years sales (or lack thereof). If you want more specifics on what is currently on the market, please contact me directly at 808-721-8088. I didn't want to post all of the sales data here, because prices and availability may change frequently.

Looking to buy or sell a luxury home in Kailua, a beachfront home in Lanikai, Kailua, or a relaxed beach cottage or retreat in the Lanikai Area of Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii? Or would you like help with luxury homes on Oahu in other areas of Oahu? I can help - I have specialized training in working with buyers of upscale homes and have 20 years experience in counseling and advising senior business executives and business owners, as well as handling multi-million dollar business transactions. I make it a point to stay up to date on market statistics and trend and track the relevant data. My membership in the Insitute for Luxury Home Marketing includes global networking and special resources for the luxury home market. Proud to be a full-service REALTOR-Broker and licensed transactional attorney, I help my clients get the best price in the shortest time, with the most information and the least hassle.

2009 Oahu, Hawaii Luxury Home Sales Statistics - Through Q3
[Luxury Real Estate Oahu, Hawaii 2008]
While relatively unscathed over the past few years, the luxury home market on Oahu has finally seen the effect of the economy. The luxury real esate market on Oahu has suffered in 2009, where we have seen a fairly significant drop in the number of sales. In the $3-4 Million price bracket, the number of luxury home sales is 10 for the first 3 quarters of 2009, down from 14 for all of 2008. In the $4-6 Million Dollar Oahu luxury home market, we have seen a more marked decline in the number of luxury home sales on Oahu. 2008 had a total of 15 sales and, so far, in 2009, there have been only 7. In the upper tier luxury home market on Oahu, at over $6 Million in Price, only 4 homes hae been sold in the first 3 quarters of 2009. In 2008, 17 luxury homes and estates on Oahu were sold in this price bracket. This reflects not only a decrease in number of homes sold, but also some downward price pressure on the luxury home market on Oahu. Great time to come in and buy a piece of the most beautiful and livable place on earth!

In fairness and with respect to the public school teachers on Oahu, let me start by saying how much I appreciate their hard work and my sincere belief that teachers on Oahu are sorely undervalued and underpaid.  I sound like a broken record, though, and am constantly shocked at budget cut after budget cut when it comes to education.

So now, in Hawaii, we have been told that the government must cut the budget by $468 million in over the next 2 years. To avoid laying off teachers, the DOE and Hawaii State Teachers Association have agreed, as of September 23, 2009, that teachers will take a 7.94% pay cut and in return, teachers will get 17 furlough days.

What does this mean for Hawaii students? As a practical matter, public school on Oahu now seems to be almost part time. As a result of the furloughs, most Fridays will be missed, leaving a 4 day school week. As it was, one of these days was a "short" day to account for teacher meetings. I am sure this will wreak havoc on many parents' child care schedules and budgets, as well as those of the teachers. Also, it is my understanding that field trips and any special activities will now be cancelled to make up for the extra instruction time.

The only thing else I can say is about this is it is just really, really sad for the students, and places a terrible burden on both teachers and parents. Come on Governor Lingle, can't you figure out another place to make cuts?

BEACHSIDE, KAILUA NEIGHBORHOOD 
LUXURY & BEACHFRONT HOME FOR SALE IN KAILUA, OAHU

9/28/2009 [2009 SALES DATA] [PAST SALES DATA]

ABOUT BEACHSIDE, KAILUA, OAHU The Beachside Neighborhood in Kailua is one of Kailua's and Oahu's most prolific luxury home and beachfront home neighborhoods. All of the homes in the Beachside area of Kailua are located beachfront or within a short walking distance to the beach. Many homes, even some of those with a busy street address like Kalaheo Avenue, are down quiet streets and off private lanes. There are several mini-neighborhoods and HOA's, in these charming beachside lanes, with amenities not usually seen in Kailua, like underground utilitites, and most having a private beach access path for residents. There are also several public beach access points in the Beachside Neighborhood in Kailua. Prices in the Beachside Neighborhood of Kailua can start in low 7 figures, usually around $1.0 for fixers or tear downs on Kalaheo Ave. and range to possibly, $9-10 million, (and double that for larger sized parcels and luxury homes and estates that could be further subdivided to still large lots). These super-deluxe Kailua luxury homes can be sprawling Balinese or plantation-style compounds, while the lesser expensive homes may be shabby beach cottages and anything in-between. Lots vary in size as well, usually, from around 10,000 square feet to over an acre, though there are a few smaller lots resulting from property CPRs. Zoning in this area is typically R-10, meaning one single-family residence per 10,000 sq ft. There are both homes and a few vacant lots available. Older homes, unless of historical significance tend to get torn down and replaced in this area.

The Beachside Neighborhood of Kailua, where some of the best luxury homes on Oahu, is located in the perfect location, along the 3 miles of white sandy beaches of Kailua Bay (on the makai side) bounded by and including the even-numbered side of North Kalaheo Drive (but not including all of N. Kalaheo). To the Northwest, it is bounded by the Kaiwanui Canal to the ocean, and to the Southeast by Kailua Road and the Kawailoa neighborhood (Kailua Beach Park). The Beachside Neighborhood includes the prestigious Castle Point area, with incredible luxury homes and estates, an area once owned by Harold HK Castle. Also, the coveted subdivision of Kainalu Park, with some luxury estates and some more modest homes, and small associated areas and associations such as Dune Circle, L'Orange, etc. Public schools are Kailua & Kainalu Elementary, Kailua Middle School, and Kailua and Kalaheo HS, depending upon location. Private school, St. Anthony, is within walking distance for most areas and goes PS-8th. Grocery and restaurants all within a mile from most locations.

PAST SALES DATA FOR BEACHSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD IN KAILUA

This year, with only one quarter left in 2009, the number of sales in the Beachside Neighborhood of Kailua is already down significantly. As of the end of September 2009 there have only been 10 sales, with the median price at $2,195,000 and the average price at $3,180,500. The lowest sale so far in Beachside, for 2009, at a jaw droppingly low price of $780,000 was for a tear down home on an 11,000 sq ft lot, right on North Kalaheo Ave. This went under contract at the end of 2008, and closed in Q1 2009, when the Kailua real estate market was looking its most dismal. I don't think anyone expects to see more deals like this.
BEACHSIDE HOMES SOLD IN 2009, THROUGH Q3 LUXURY HOMES IN KAILUA OAHU 2009 STATS THROUGH Q3 Median Price: $2,275,000 Average Sale Price: $3,180,500 Average Days on the Market: 181		Right now (end Q3 2009), there are 23 homes on the market. Over half of these are on estate sized lots (i.e. around 1/3 acre or more). The former Castle Estate, now listed for $15M, is on 1.5 acres at Castle Point, with three homes, but in the process of being divided into three single-family lots. Another 2/3 acre lot with a compound of two new residences on South Kalaheo, near Kailua Beach Park, is listed for $21,000,000. The home at Castle Point, used by President Obama for his vacation last year, is also for sale. Many of the homes currently for sale are newly renovated/developed properties, resulting from speculation in the boom years of 2004-2006 and the division of some larger lots. Some of these are now lender/investor owned, due to the market downturn and inability to build/sell. As you can see, average days on the market has gone up tremendously, more than doubling. May be time to see some major price reductions for some of these. If you want more specifics on what is currently on the market, please contact me directly at 808-721-8088. I didn't want to post all of the sales data here, because prices and availability may change frequently.

Looking to buy or sell a luxury or beachfront home, or a relaxed beach cottage or retreat in the Beachside Area of Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii? Or would you like help with luxury homes on Oahu in other areas of Oahu? I can help - I have specialized training in working with buyers of upscale homes and have 20 years experience in counseling and advising senior business executives and business owners, as well as handling multi-million dollar business transactions. I make it a point to stay up to date on market statistics and trend and track the relevant data. My membership in the Insitute for Luxury Home Marketing includes global networking and special resources for the luxury home market. Proud to be a full-service REALTOR-Broker and licensed transactional attorney, I help my clients get the best price in the shortest time, with the most information and the least hassle.

Yesterday, at Broker's Open House in Kailua, Oahu, I had the opportunity to view an exquisite beachfront home at Castle Point. Interestingly, it also happened to be part of the group of homes that was used by President Obama and his family for their December 2008 vacation in Kailua.

Kailua is a laid-back beach town, about 14 miles from downtown Honolulu. This Kailua Beachside Neighborhood property, formerly part of the Harold KL Castle Estate, sits on almost an acre of land in a prestigious gated community known as Castle Point. Castle Point is at the end of Kailuana Place through the also exquisite Kainalu Park Area in Kailua. The back of this Kailua estate for sale fronts the tranquil aquamarine waters of Kailua Bay and one of the best white sand beaches in the US, if not the world. Recreational activities enjoyed on Kailua Beach area include windsurfing, kitesurfing, stand-up paddling, kayaking, swimming, and of course, suntanning. You may even frequently spot a honu or two! The front of this Beachside Neighborhood home for sale is on a quiet, wide, dead-end street, that fronts the Kaiwanui Canal, leading to the ocean.

The wood-frame Tropical Plantation style luxury home, built in 2006, is almost 5,000 sq feet under roof, with almost 2,000 square feet of open lanai, and has 5 bedrooms and 5 1/2 baths. The entry to the home is gated and features a spacious and private front courtyard area with tropical landscape, a pool, waterfall and whirlpool. The open floor plan of this Kailua home features many rooms opening directly into the spectacular courtyard, maximizing the flow of the cool tradewinds from the ocean.

The architectural detail and finish work, including stained glass, stonework, and intricately carved wood, at this Beachside Neighborhood home are impressive, yet not pretentious. This fine home is still suitable to the relaxed beach lifestyle of Kailua. This home is listed at $8.9 Million. Qualified buyers, please call me for an appointment or for more information on this property. 808-721-8088.

Back of Beachfront, Beachside Neighborhood Kailua home, looking from Kailua Beach. 

This Castle Point home features a large Chefs kitchen with top of the line stainless appliances.

An Expansive Living/ Dining Room Area opens to Interior Courtyard Area in this fine Kailua Luxury Home.

Master Bath w/ Shower, Soaking Tub, Double Vanities, and a Multi-Million Dollar View.

Media Room and View Down Hallway With Bedrooms, Laundry, Etc. in This Comfortable Kailua Luxury Home.

Front Courtyard and Beautifully Landscaped, Private Pool Area.

Gorgeous Lanai Area in Front Courtyard

Large Lava Rock Pool Area with Waterfall in Front Courtyard.

Back Yard with Frontage Directly on Kailua Beach & Bay - Miles of White Sandy Beaches!

Listing courtesy of Joel Cavasso, C21 Kailua Beach Realty. Photographs used with permission.